An interactive teaching apparatus and a method for teaching graphemes, i.e., letter symbols of an alphabet; grapheme names, phonemes; and phonetics are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a display of graphemes wherein each of the letters is color-coded with at least one of a plurality of distinctive colors. Each of the distinctive colors corresponds to a characteristic of sound production associated with at least one phoneme or speech sound of at least one of the graphemes. The letters are accompanied by a plurality of visually perceivable images, each of which is positioned adjacent to at least one of the graphemes and has a name including at least one phoneme of at least one adjacent grapheme. The apparatus also includes a plurality of individually-activated, sound generating devices, each of which is associated with one of the graphemes and generates the name or at least one phoneme associated with the grapheme. The apparatus further includes a sound pattern generating device for generating patterns of sounds comprising more than one of the names or the phonemes generated by the plurality of sound generating devices. An interactive teaching method for teaching graphemes, grapheme names, phonemes, and phonetics comprises the steps of utilizing a display of graphemes, such as that described above to learn the phonemes associated with the letters used to form words, and forming words, phrases, and sentences phonetically with a set of cards. Each of the cards depicts at least one of the graphemes and the image positioned adjacent to the grapheme on the display. Each card also is color-coded with the same distinctive color used to color-code the grapheme on the display.

A speech synthesizing circuit includes a speech synthesizing integrated circuit chip and an external memory integrated circuit chip. The external memory chip may be an audio data storage chip or an audio synthesizing chip. The chips are connected through an input-output port on each chip, and the microprocessor of the speech synthesizing chip retrieves speech data from the audio data storage memory of the audio synthesizing chip. Access to the memory of the audio synthesizing chip is accomplished by software simulations that modify the functions of instructions pre-programmed into the speech synthesizing chip during manufacture. The preprogrammed instructions cause the address of speech data to be loaded into a speech address register and the software modifications cause an address to be loaded into the audio synthesizing chip, by which the speech synthesizing chip will retrieve speech data from external memory at an address stored in the external memory chip. Alternatively, the instructions to deliver data to the speech synthesizing chip may be programmed into the audio synthesizing chip. A speaker is connected to balanced speaker driver outputs of the speech synthesizing chip and also to a single-ended speaker driver of the audio synthesizing chip.

A sound-emitting face apparel includes electronic storage, selection and retrieval of sound signals. The signals, such as music or speech sounds, are emitted outward from a central region of a wearer's face. The music and speech sounds are prestored on integrated circuit semiconductor chips. Blinking lights may be activated in conjunction with the emission of music. The face apparel can be eyewear wherein the sound is emitted from a bridge region of the eyewear's frame.

Disclosed is an MPEG portable sound reproducing system and a method for reproducing sound data compressed using the MPEG method. The inventive system includes power supply means for supplying operational power to the system, the power supply means being realized through a secondary battery; power processing means for rectifying power supplied from the power supply means to stable voltage and current; information display means for displaying numbers and combinations of letters related to operational states of the system; control means for controlling all operations of converting and reproducing sound data compressed using the MPEG method; data storage means for storing MPEG-compressed sound data in a designated address according to signals output from the control means; information selecting means for selecting general operations to reproduce, download, and apply selected sound data stored in the data storage means; sound reproducing means for converting sound data stored in the data storage means into a format audible to users according to signals output from the control means; and transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving sound data and program data from external devices.

An electronic learning device configured to receive in a predetermined orientation a book having an arrangement of selectable mode icons, selectable content and a page identifier. Non-volatile memory in the electronic learning device has instructions associated with each mode icon, and data associated with the selectable content. A controller is in electrical communication with a page identification sensor and a position sensor for detecting the presence of a selector. The controller is configured a) to operate in accordance with instructions associated with each mode icon, b) to determine the position of the selector when the selector is within the active range of the position sensor, c) to recognize the page identifier, and a selection by the selector of one of the selectable mode icons, the selectable indicia or the selectable content and d) to send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the selection.